To say that 2025 has been a standout year for the horror genre would be putting it lightly. From breakout studio hits such as Sinners and Weapons, to ambitious indie films like The Ugly Stepsister, Dangerous Animals and Jimmy & Stiggs, this year has been a gift for fans of the genre. And while the months of September and October are filled to the brim with horror releases capitalizing on the spooky season, one film has arrived with plenty of buzz from the festival circuit that threatens to get lost in the shuffle. The new film from up-and-coming indie filmmaker Mercedes Bryce Morgan is one of the more surprising genre films of the year. An unpredictable riff on the ever-growing “rental home” subgenre, Morgan’s latest film is a thoroughly entertaining and twisted treat that is fully deserving of your attention.
Courtesy Bleecker Street
Diego (Marco Pigossi) and Sage (Maddie Hasson, Malignant) have been a couple for several years now, looking for a romantic weekend getaway at a lakeside Air B&B. Diego is a writer who has left his sturdy teaching gig to focus on his writing career. Sage has just been promoted to a magazine editor and is about to start her new job. As they begin a new chapter in their lives, Diego hopes this weekend trip will bring the couple closer together after a rough patch in their relationship. Shortly after they arrive at their idyllic vacation spot, Will (Alex Roe) and Cin (Andra Nechita) — short for Cinnamon — show up claiming to have also booked the home. Instead of letting the double-booking spoil their weekend, Sage and Diego decide to share the home with the adventurous couple after they promise to not intrude on their privacy and offer to cook for them, as well as potentially show them a good time. Shortly after the two couples begin to get to know each other, red flags begin to reveal themselves and boundaries are quickly crossed. Cin greets Diego in nothing but a towel asking him to find her underwear for her after she supposedly loses her contacts in the shower. Will begins prying into Sage’s sex life, asking more and more personal questions as her dissatisfaction with Diego becomes more apparent. Yet, Cin, who works for wealthy clients in the writing world, offers to pass along Diego’s writing in hopes of boosting his career. The awkward social interaction turns into a game of psychological warfare as dynamics begin to flip and desire and manipulation become intertwined. What was supposed to be a dream getaway for a couple who needed some alone time spirals into a nightmarish descent into chaos and a quest for survival.
Directed by Mercedes Bryce Morgan, Bone Lake is an erotically-charged, whip-smart cocktail of a psychological thriller that never ceases to enthrall. Morgan, whose previous film Spoonful of Sugar was a horny, unhinged genre programmer that explored unsettling familial dynamics, ups her game with a confidently directed and claustrophobic nail-biter. While this may not be the most insightful rumination on temptation and gaslighting, Morgan maintains a consistent sense of morbid humor that makes even the most shocking twists land with demented glee. Largely a chamber piece in the vein of Funny Games, The Invitation and most notably Speak No Evil, the script, penned by Joshua Friedlander, turns initial pleasantries and simple small-talk into something sinister in the blink of an eye. Audiences expecting a non-stop assault of violence and gore will be disappointed as most of the bloodletting is saved for the final act — even with an opening sequence that features a naked man taking an arrow through the testicles. However, through careful pacing and precise ratcheting of tension, Bone Lake is a total thrill-ride even before we arrive at the climax, perfectly set to “Sex & Violence” by The Exploited.
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Morgan, with only a handful of projects under her belt, is an immediate talent to watch as her directorial eye is stylistically invigorating. Well-implemented crash zooms spark a sense of unease and in-camera lighting cues and elaborate set-ups within the frame help build a simmering, yet oppressive mood. Several sequences balance both horror and wit with impressive control over tone. The use of color, shot by cinematographer Nick Matthews (Saw X), is often striking, making the most of its limited budget. Morgan’s film is at its best when it explores the disturbing psychological cat-and-mouse game between its two couples, digging into uncomfortable depths that will likely turn some viewers away. After a night of drinking and drugs, Diego quietly opens up to Will about his sexual frustrations with Sage, only to have those comments quickly pointed back at her. There are plenty more prickly encounters that will cause audiences to squirm in their seat, but those are best left unspoiled as much of the film benefits from going in as cold as possible. When the script muddies the water as to who is being manipulated and who is playing a game, that’s when Bone Lake feels the most electric. The four central performances all work in tandem with one another, with Maddie Hasson getting the largest platform to show off her range as an actor. Andra Nechita and Will Roe are having a blast with the unpredictable nature of their respective characters.
Courtesy Bleecker Street
Bone Lake is one of the year’s most twisted surprises. Director Mercedes Bryce Morgan crafts an unpredictable and tension-filled psychosexual thriller that doesn’t pull its punches when exploring both manipulation and lingering desires. Morgan’s exceptionally fun barn burner is the kind of hidden gem you don’t want to miss.
Bone Lake is now playing in theaters.
This sounds pretty cool